"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Dickens 1)
Charles Dickens sets the tone of the entire novel with this first sentence comparing France and England. He shows how they are on opposite ends of the spectrum, with no in between. It is either dark of light, foolishness or wisdom. There is no middle during this time period, and it sets up the rest of the novel. It also demonstrates Dickens' way of pairing things in order to show contrast, which he does with many of his characters including Carton and Darnay, Pross and Madame Defarge, and Lucie and Madame Defarge.
"Only [Lucie] had the power of charming this black brooding from his mind. She was the golden thread that united him to a Past beyond his misery, and to a Present beyond his misery: and the sound of her voice, the light of her face, the touch of her hand, had a strong beneficial influence with him almost always." (Dickens 60)
Dickens makes it very clear that Lucie represents the idea of Love in the story. He makes her this beautiful glowing character who changes everyone she comes in contact with for the better. He wants the people of England to read about Lucie and see that her way of light and love is better than that of Madame Defarge, because just a little love can change so many people.
"Deep would have been the blot upon his escutcheon if his chocolate had been ignobly waited on by only three men; he must have died of two" (Dickens 79).
This quote shows how extreme the wealth and luxury the rich are blessed with, while all throughout France there are people starving. Monseigneur would feel that it is a mark against his family crest if he does not have four servants giving him his hot chocolate, and it would be ignoble to have only two.
'Inhuman abandonment of consideration" "As if they had been mere rats coming out of their holes" "I would ride over any of you very willingly, and exterminate you from the earth" (Dickens 83-85).
With these quotes, and with most of the quotes said by the Marquis, Dickens shows how the elites see the peasant classes as a detriment to society. He holds nothing but disgust for those less fortunate than him, likening them to rats and vermin. This represents how the peasant class have no one to help them with their struggles; when they ask, they are practically laughed at. The unfair social class system allows the elites to abuse the peasant class with no consequences.
"Detestation of the high is the involuntary homage of the low" (Dickens 93).
The Marquis is attempting to convince Darnay not to relinquish his title. He does not care that he is detested by the peasants because he feels that if he is not hated, he is not respected which he should be because they are all lower than him. He thinks that an elite should be proud to inspire hatred and he thinks of it as a form of admiration.
"For you, and any dear to you, I would do anything" (Dickens 117)
This powerful quote by Carton foreshadows that he will eventually transform into a hero, and save Lucie or someone she loves. It marks the beginning of how Lucie is recalling him to a better version of himself, and that her influence can help even the saddest drunk. He is so loyal and devoted to ensuring her happiness because he recognizes the light in her and even if it is not directed at him, he wants to help keep it there.
"Madame Defarge let him go—as a cat might have done to a mouse—and silently and composedly looked at him while they made ready, and while he besought her: the women passionately screeching at him all the time, and the men sternly calling out to have him killed with grass in his mouth." (Dickens 173)
Dickens theme of power abuse is strongly represented with this quote, as the peasant class has now risen up from prey and became predators. They have this newfound power but they do not know how to properly use it, so they begin mercilessly killing for no reason, becoming savage with their bloodlust.
"'I am not to be buried there, prejudged, and without any means of presenting my case?' 'You will see. But, what then? other people have been similarly buried in worse prisons, before now.' 'But never by me'" (Dickens 195)
Defarge, previously seen as sympathetic towards Dr. Manette and his family, now shows his need for revenge as well. It does not matter to him if Darnay is guilty or innocent, to him it is only an elite's blood for a peasant's blood.
"The child, who was nearest to him, told them afterwards, and told her grandchildren when she was a handsome old lady, that she heard him say 'A life you love'" (Dickens 260) I just had to include this quote because reading it gave me chills. Sydney Carton is amazing.
"Then tell the wind and fire where to stop," returned the madame; "but don't tell me" ( Dickens 264).
Madame Defarge's need for vengeance is stronger than the wind and fire. She has waited too long for Darnay's death, and she refuses to let anyone even think of stopping her.
"The vigorous tenacity of love, always so much stronger than hate" (Dickens 286)
Dickens goes back to his persuading England to cease the path of hatred they are heading toward, and choose to act with love instead. He stresses that it is a stronger force than that of hatred, and those who choose it will always prevail.
"'It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.'” (Dickens 293)
Carton represents Dickens' theme of Resurrection. He began as a drunk lazy man but Lucie transforms him into a man who was willing to lay down his life for the happiness of others. He also shows the theme of Sacrifice, as he sacrifices himself for Darnay, saving Lucie's happiness. Carton has made a complete transformation into a true gentleman, and he is not scared of the death he is walking towards, but happy because he helped out others, making it the best thing he has ever done.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Dickens 1)
Charles Dickens sets the tone of the entire novel with this first sentence comparing France and England. He shows how they are on opposite ends of the spectrum, with no in between. It is either dark of light, foolishness or wisdom. There is no middle during this time period, and it sets up the rest of the novel. It also demonstrates Dickens' way of pairing things in order to show contrast, which he does with many of his characters including Carton and Darnay, Pross and Madame Defarge, and Lucie and Madame Defarge.
"Only [Lucie] had the power of charming this black brooding from his mind. She was the golden thread that united him to a Past beyond his misery, and to a Present beyond his misery: and the sound of her voice, the light of her face, the touch of her hand, had a strong beneficial influence with him almost always." (Dickens 60)
Dickens makes it very clear that Lucie represents the idea of Love in the story. He makes her this beautiful glowing character who changes everyone she comes in contact with for the better. He wants the people of England to read about Lucie and see that her way of light and love is better than that of Madame Defarge, because just a little love can change so many people.
"Deep would have been the blot upon his escutcheon if his chocolate had been ignobly waited on by only three men; he must have died of two" (Dickens 79).
This quote shows how extreme the wealth and luxury the rich are blessed with, while all throughout France there are people starving. Monseigneur would feel that it is a mark against his family crest if he does not have four servants giving him his hot chocolate, and it would be ignoble to have only two.
'Inhuman abandonment of consideration"
"As if they had been mere rats coming out of their holes"
"I would ride over any of you very willingly, and exterminate you from the earth"
(Dickens 83-85).
With these quotes, and with most of the quotes said by the Marquis, Dickens shows how the elites see the peasant classes as a detriment to society. He holds nothing but disgust for those less fortunate than him, likening them to rats and vermin. This represents how the peasant class have no one to help them with their struggles; when they ask, they are practically laughed at. The unfair social class system allows the elites to abuse the peasant class with no consequences.
"Detestation of the high is the involuntary homage of the low" (Dickens 93).
The Marquis is attempting to convince Darnay not to relinquish his title. He does not care that he is detested by the peasants because he feels that if he is not hated, he is not respected which he should be because they are all lower than him. He thinks that an elite should be proud to inspire hatred and he thinks of it as a form of admiration.
"For you, and any dear to you, I would do anything" (Dickens 117)
This powerful quote by Carton foreshadows that he will eventually transform into a hero, and save Lucie or someone she loves. It marks the beginning of how Lucie is recalling him to a better version of himself, and that her influence can help even the saddest drunk. He is so loyal and devoted to ensuring her happiness because he recognizes the light in her and even if it is not directed at him, he wants to help keep it there.
"Madame Defarge let him go—as a cat might have done to a mouse—and silently and composedly looked at him while they made ready, and while he besought her: the women passionately screeching at him all the time, and the men sternly calling out to have him killed with grass in his mouth." (Dickens 173)
Dickens theme of power abuse is strongly represented with this quote, as the peasant class has now risen up from prey and became predators. They have this newfound power but they do not know how to properly use it, so they begin mercilessly killing for no reason, becoming savage with their bloodlust.
"'I am not to be buried there, prejudged, and without any means of presenting my case?'
'You will see. But, what then? other people have been similarly buried in worse prisons, before now.'
'But never by me'" (Dickens 195)
Defarge, previously seen as sympathetic towards Dr. Manette and his family, now shows his need for revenge as well. It does not matter to him if Darnay is guilty or innocent, to him it is only an elite's blood for a peasant's blood.
"The child, who was nearest to him, told them afterwards, and told her grandchildren when she was a handsome old lady, that she heard him say 'A life you love'" (Dickens 260)
I just had to include this quote because reading it gave me chills. Sydney Carton is amazing.
"Then tell the wind and fire where to stop," returned the madame; "but don't tell me" ( Dickens 264).
Madame Defarge's need for vengeance is stronger than the wind and fire. She has waited too long for Darnay's death, and she refuses to let anyone even think of stopping her.
"The vigorous tenacity of love, always so much stronger than hate" (Dickens 286)
Dickens goes back to his persuading England to cease the path of hatred they are heading toward, and choose to act with love instead. He stresses that it is a stronger force than that of hatred, and those who choose it will always prevail.
"'It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.'” (Dickens 293)
Carton represents Dickens' theme of Resurrection. He began as a drunk lazy man but Lucie transforms him into a man who was willing to lay down his life for the happiness of others. He also shows the theme of Sacrifice, as he sacrifices himself for Darnay, saving Lucie's happiness. Carton has made a complete transformation into a true gentleman, and he is not scared of the death he is walking towards, but happy because he helped out others, making it the best thing he has ever done.